Written Answers Friday 19 September 2008

Scottish Executive

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what ornithological evidence it has received regarding the effectiveness of trapping and relocating sparrowhawks as a means of reducing predation on racing pigeons.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is aware of a range of opinions on the likely outcome of trapping and relocating sparrowhawks. The purpose of the proposed trial is to provide evidence whether this can be an effective means of reducing predation on racing pigeons.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils with English as an additional language there were in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08, broken down by local authority.

Fiona Hyslop: Information on the number of pupils with English as an additional language is only available for 2006 and 2007. This information is collected via the annual September pupil census.

  The number of pupils with English as an additional language for 2007 is published in table 5.9 of National Statistics publication, Pupils in Scotland, 2007.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/07/28100032/75.

  The number of pupils with English as an additional language for 2006 is published in table 5.8 of the National Statistics publication, Pupils in Scotland, 2006.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/71.

Environment

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much land was newly designated as set-aside in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Richard Lochhead: The Rural Payments and Inspection Directorate do not hold details on set-aside land in the format asked for. However, to be as helpful as possible they have provided details of the land claimed as set-aside in Scotland under the Integrated Administration and Control System in the last five years (2003 to 2007 inclusive) to support subsidy claims.

  

 
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Area Claimed as Set-Aside (Hectares)
 93,590
 71,706
 62,021
 60,657
 57,922

Environment

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of arable land was designated as set-aside in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Richard Lochhead: The following table shows the area and proportion of arable land designated as set-aside in Scotland in each year from 2003 to 2007.

  

 Year
 Set Aside (Ha)
 Arable land (Ha)
 Proportion Set Aside


 2003
 90,684
 959,739
 9.4%


 2004
 75,117
 960,849
 7.8%


 2005
 69,492
 938,051
 7.4%


 2006
 67,549
 921,828
 7.3%


 2007
 67,933
 922,194
 7.4%



  Source: June Agricultural Census.

  Notes:

  1. Arable land includes tilled area and grass under five years old

  2. Set-aside figures from the June agricultural census are higher than set-aside areas claimed under the Single Farm Payments Scheme from 2005.

  3. Provisional results from the 2008 June agricultural census are scheduled for release on 24 September 2008.

Environment

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much compensation was paid in respect of set-aside land in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Richard Lochhead: The following table details the subsidy paid on set-aside land in Scotland in the last five years for which figures are available (2003 to 2007 inclusive).

  

 
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Set-Aside Paid in £ million*
 22.407
 15.945
 11.244
 10.564
 10.333



  Note: *Payment figures before modulation.

Farming

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of Scottish farms receive allowances through the Land Managers Options mechanism.

Richard Lochhead: Any farmer or land manager with land in Scotland may choose to apply under Land Managers Options (LMOs) provided they also submit a single application form (SAF). Together with any existing ongoing five year commitments under land management contracts menu scheme (LMCMS), the total must not exceed a total allowance calculated in accordance with the amount of land they have. Of the 51,000 farm holdings in Scotland, around 21,000 claim CAP funds through the single application and IACS. Of those, around half choose to apply for LMCMS and LMOs. Currently, around one third of the total LMCMS and LMO applicants have applied for LMOs. This figure is likely to rise as existing five year LMCMS commitments end.

Fire (Scotland) Act 2005

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring it has carried out or commissioned since the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force to establish the impact of its implementation on the bed and breakfast sector.

Fergus Ewing: The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force in April 2005. Part three of the act; Fire Safety and The Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 only came into force in October 2006 and guidance for this sector was issued in October 2007. Fire and rescue authorities who are the enforcing authorities are currently in the process of implementing this new regime across Scotland. A commitment to undertake an evaluation of the impact of this new risk-based fire safety regime for non-domestic premises has been given and this work will be initiated once the new arrangements have had time to "bed in".

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reason is for the asymmetric attitude to the landing of tope from the Solway Firth, where it is legal on the Scottish side and illegal on the English side.

Richard Lochhead: Legislation on the English side of the Solway Firth is a matter for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

  Landings of tope by Scottish vessels are at a very low level, totalling 12 tonnes since 2000. Therefore the Scottish Government sees little practical advantage at this point in introducing legislation to ban the landing of tope.

  Moreover, the Scottish Government’s view is that it is better to place the issue of tope fishing within the wider context of fishing on all elasmobranches (sharks, skates and rays) rather than consider the issue on a species-by-species basis.

  We will keep this situation under review.

Fisheries

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with fishing organisations regarding the moratorium on fish quota transfers between Scotland and England.

Richard Lochhead: As part of the consultation on Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota management and Licensing in Scotland , my officials conducted 25 meetings around the coast of Scotland, attended by over 350 stakeholders.

  The current restriction on the permanent transfer of quota and licences out of Scotland was discussed at these meetings, and provided a good opportunity to explain that the moratorium was put in place to preserve Scottish fishing rights whilst work continues to deliver distinct quota and licensing arrangements in Scotland.

  The moratorium is being kept under continual review while the process of consultation continues.

Fisheries

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has consulted fishing federations on whether they would prefer to continue with a modernised UK quota management system or move to a Scottish system.

Richard Lochhead: Our proposals, which were widely welcomed, give effect to the devolution of fisheries management in the Scotland Act 1998. The principle of having a separate quota management and licensing system for Scotland is recognised in statute and we have simply consulted on the detail of what such a system might look like.

Fisheries

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation (NFFO) and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s (SFF) responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the future of quota management and licensing.

Richard Lochhead: The deadline for written responses to our consultation was 21 August and an initial assessment indicates that our proposals have been widely welcomed.

  Responses have been received from the NFFO and SFF and these are now being considered carefully along with all the others received. We will shortly produce an outcome of consultation report upon which we will seek final stakeholders’ views before it is formally promulgated.

Fisheries

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of the moratorium on fish quota transfers between Scotland and England since its imposition in May 2008.

Richard Lochhead: Where we have been asked to consider fish quota transfers outwith Scotland in exceptional circumstances, and where, on the basis of information supplied, we have concluded that there are indeed exceptional circumstances, we have allowed such transfers to take place.

  The moratorium was put in place to preserve Scottish fishing rights whilst work continues to deliver distinct quota management and licensing arrangements in Scotland. The moratorium has been kept under continual review during the on-going process of consultation to ensure that its continued existence in its current form is objectively justified.

  To this end, I announced recently that the transfer of 10 metre and under licences/entitlements would be exempted from the moratorium provisions as well as the transfer of over 10 metre licences/entitlements where no FQA units are attached.

Fisheries

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its intentions for the future of the moratorium on fish quota transfers between Scotland and England.

Richard Lochhead: The moratorium was put in place to preserve Scottish fishing rights whilst work continues to deliver distinct quota management and licensing arrangements in Scotland. The moratorium has been kept under continual review during the on-going process of consultation to ensure that its continued existence in its current form is objectively justifiable.

  I announced recently that the transfer of 10 metre and under licences/entitlements would be exempted from the moratorium provisions as well as the transfer of over 10 metre licences/entitlements where no FQA units are attached.

Fisheries

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with the UK Government on the moratorium on fish quota transfers between Scotland and England since its imposition in May 2008.

Richard Lochhead: We have maintained regular dialogue with other fisheries administrations on this and other fisheries management issues.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it would make a Scottish statutory instrument to prohibit the catching of tope by commercial fishermen in the Solway Firth.

Richard Lochhead: The introduction of an SSI is a significant step and one that could only be taken where we believe that a failure to act would represent a real and present danger to the tope stock.

  Moreover, the Scottish Government’s view is that it is better to place the issue of tope fishing within the wider context of fishing on all elasmobranches (sharks, skates and rays) rather than consider the issue on a species-by-species basis.

Forestry

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards the target of planting around 9,000 to 10,000 hectares of new forests and woodlands annually.

Michael Russell: Earlier this year, Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) indicated in its Scottish Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan that a sustained programme of around 10,000 hectares of new planting would be required each year to achieve the strategy aspiration of 25% woodland cover by the second half of the century. FCS estimated that the private sector would plant 80% of the annual programme, while the remainder would be planted on the national forest estate. It is therefore too early to assess progress against this programme, particularly as the incentives to help delivery, the forestry measures within the SRDP, have just been put in place after the closure of the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme last year. Progress will, however, be monitored closely over the coming years, and the figures will be published. Planting on the national forest estate will be mainly carried out on land acquired by FCS through its repositioning programme – the acquisition of land with potential for high public benefit, funded by the disposal of land with lower public benefit – which was also introduced earlier this year.

  In the meantime, FCS has published a discussion paper which sets out the benefits that woodland expansion can deliver and how this fits with the Government’s objectives across various portfolios. It explores a number of critical wider land use issues that affect how the aspirational target can be achieved, and discusses how the delivery mechanisms can be used. The closing date for comments on the paper is 30 September 2008.

  The discussion paper can viewed on the FCS website at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7FWEQ5.

Forestry

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on woodland creation in each of the last five years and how much is planned to be spent in each of the next five years.

Michael Russell: Details of expenditure on woodland creation in the past five years and planned expenditure in the next five years are listed in the following tables.

  Details of Expenditure: Past Five Years

  

 Woodland Creation


 
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Private Sector 
£10,300,000
£8,300,000
£8,000,000
£11,700,000
£8,400,000


 National Forest Estate
£400,000
£430,000
£90,000
£75,000
£165,000



  Details of Planned Expenditure

  

 Woodland Creation


 
 2008-09
 2009-10
 2010-11
 2011-12
 2012-13


 Private Sector
£25,000,000
£25,000,000
£25,000,000
£25,000,000
£25,000,000


 National Forest Estate
£2,100,000
£2,200,000
£2,240,000
 Dependent on next Spending Review
 Dependent on next Spending Review

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list premises sold by the NHS since 2004, also showing whether they have been demolished, fully cleared or developed and their current status.

Nicola Sturgeon: The list of premises sold by NHS Scotland since 1 April 2004 for which information is available is contained in the following table. Data for 2007-08 is currently being collated and is not yet available.

  When premises have been disposed off, no further information about the purpose to which the property is put is maintained by the NHS board.

  Premises Disposals – 2004-05 to 2006-07

  

 2006-07


 NHS Borders
Site of former Hawick Cottage HospitalFormer Day Hospital, West Port, Hawick1-6 Dingleton Cottages, Melrose


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Land at Dumfries and Galloway Royal InfirmaryLockerbie ClinicCastle Douglas Health Centre and Sub-OfficeSurplus Land at Lochmaben HospitalLHCC Office, Lochmaben


 NHS Forth Valley
Bellsdyke Land, Larbert106 Bellsdyke Road, Larbert71 Main Street, Bonnybridge2 South Church Street


 NHS Grampian
Spynie Nursing HomeTor-na-DeeBilbohallGlen O’DeeHolburn ClinicLadysbridge Hospital


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Lennox CastlePart Stobhill HospitalPart Pollok Health CentreWoodilee Hospital


 NHS Highland
Former GP Surgery, IslaFormer GP House and Surgery, Dalmally7 Aros Cottages, Blarbuie Road, Lochgilphead


 NHS Lanarkshire
 Land at Stonehouse Hospital


 NHS Lothian
38 and 39 West Preston Street, Newington, Edinburgh137, 139, 141, 145, 145a and 147 Grange Loan, Edinburgh2 and 3 Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh21 Torphichen Street, Edinburgh40 Colinton Road, Edinburgh1-3 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh


 NHS Orkney
Old Surgery DounbyGarden House, Kirkwall - leased back to NHS boardGraham House, Kirkwall - leased back to NHS board


 NHS Tayside
Hillside Hospital, PerthForfar Royal InfirmaryCarnoustie Health CentreArea "C" land at Ashludie HospitalRavenswood Clinic, Forfar


 NHS Western Isles
Nurse Cottage, Barvas43 McQueen StreetNurse Cottage, Lochmaddy11 St Barr’s Crescent, North BayGP House, Northton


 Scottish Ambulance Service
Edinburgh South Ambulance Station, Greenbank Drive, EdinburghStranraer Ambulance Station


 2005-2006


 NHS Ayrshire and Arran
Sale of 57 Hannahston Avenue, DronganBellsbank Clinic


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 1-6 Ladyfield Villas, 


 NHS Forth Valley
 Princes Street Day Hospital, Stirling


 NHS Grampian
Woodlands Hospital, AberdeenWesthill Health ClinicBilbohall Hospital Farm, Near Elgin1-2 Upperboat Road, InveruriePitsmedden Clinic


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Former Estate Road, Roadside Services Site, Robroyston (Site 2 and 3)Plot 16, Mearnskirk Hospital, Newton MearnsBelvidere Hospital, London Road, GlasgowAccord Hospice, Hawkhead Road, Paisley


 NHS Highland
1-4 and 8 Aros Cottages, Lochgilphead9-11 and 8-25 Blarbuie Road, LochgilpheadLand to Allow Medicentre, Inverness


 NHS Lothian
 Land at Chalmers Street, Edinburgh


 NHS Tayside
Butterburn Clinic, DundeeRoyal Dundee Liff Hospital, DundeeStrathmartine HospitalCommunity Nurses Home, Little Dunkeld44 Rose Crescent, Perth52 Jeanfield Road, Perth2 Burghmuir Road, PerthFormer Nurses Home, Hillside, Montrose1B Western Avenue, Perth1A Western Road, Perth


 Scottish Ambulance Service
 Chirnside Ambulance Station


 2004-2005


 NHS Ayrshire and Arran
 Former Clinic, Hopes Avenue, Dalmellington


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
St Michael’s Cottage, DumfriesKerrara, Annan


 NHS Fife
East Wemyss Clinic1, 2 and 3 Stratheden Court, Cupar


 NHS Grampian
Ladysbridge Hospital, near BanffLand at Former Kingseat Hospital, Newmachar


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 Clock Tower, Glasgow Royal Infirmary


 NHS Highland
GP House and Surgery, GlenelgNurses House, CarbostFormer Health Centre, Ullapool


 NHS Lanarkshire
Land at Central Health Centre, Cumbernauld28 Merlin Road, Bellshill10 Airdrie Road, Carluke


 NHS Lothian
 Rosefield Clinic


 NHS Orkney
 Nurse House, Toab


 NHS Tayside
Land at Kinclaven Crescent, Murthly, PerthKinnaber Reservoir, Sunnyside, AngusThe Firs, Linefield Road, Carnoustie, Angus

Health

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether advice contained in National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) multiple technology appraisals always supersedes advice from the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) reviews National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) multiple technology appraisals (MTAs) for applicability in Scotland. If the MTA is deemed to be valid for Scotland, it would supersede advice from the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).

Health

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which treatments have been withdrawn in Scotland based on advice in a multiple technology appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Nicola Sturgeon: Where a National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Multiple Technology Appraisal (MTA) supersedes a recommendation from the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), patients in Scotland already receiving the drug in question would not have it withdrawn unless there was a clinical reason to do so. However, clinicians, in taking account of the NICE MTA determination and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) advice, would not routinely prescribe the drug.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14364 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008, whether it considers that lack of knowledge on the causes and control measures to prevent the spread of Clostridium difficile were a contributory factor to the outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: As was made clear in the Independent Review Report on Clostridium Difficile Outbreaks at the Vale of Leven Hospital a series of organisational and structural issues needed to be addressed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. All recommendations in the review team’s report are being taken forward by the board.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will meet the families affected by the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital before she decides whether to hold a public inquiry.

Nicola Sturgeon: I have already met twice with the families of those affected by the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital on 7 and 12 August 2008. I am aware of their views concerning a public inquiry, and am willing to meet with the families again, following the conclusion of the investigation of the Area Procurator Fiscal for Argyll and Clyde, should they wish to do so.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14360 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008, whether the cover for the infection control nurse based at the Vale of Leven Hospital is provided at the hospital or from a remote location.

Nicola Sturgeon: Cover for the infection control nurse is provided by one of the infection control team; all of them operate from hospitals within the west sector of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why Health Protection Scotland’s Report on Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease Cases and Mortality in all acute hospitals in Scotland from December 2007-May 2008 has recommended an age of 15 for the minimum limit for the extension of the national surveillance programme for Clostridium difficile-associated disease.

Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) that existing testing methods for Clostridium difficile are not recommended for children under the age of 15. Younger children are carriers of Clostridium difficile without any symptoms and the disease does not appear to occur in childhood. Given the lack of appropriate tests and the probability that this group of individuals is at very low risk it does not seem appropriate to recommend testing which is unproven and could lead to unnecessary treatment. HPS will, however, keep the situation under review.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15604 by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 September 2008, whether the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Task Force reports annually to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing setting out progress against the targets contained in the HAI delivery plans and, if so, whether these reports are published.

Nicola Sturgeon: Yes. The summary reports for the two previous HAI Delivery Plans (2002-05 and 2005 and 2008) are available from the HAI Task Force website, the link to which is:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/19529/2005.

  The annual report for the current three year delivery plan will be submitted to me and published on the HAI Task Force website.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing expects to receive advice from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in relation to any action to be taken following the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Lord Advocate has asked the Area Procurator Fiscal for Argyll and Clyde to make urgent enquiries into the circumstances of the deaths at the Vale of Leven and report its findings to Crown Counsel. It will then be a matter for Crown Counsel to consider what further action is required in light of the circumstances which have emerged.

  The Procurator Fiscal will be required to consider the terms of the expert reports carefully, as well as carrying out his own independent investigations in consultation with Crown counsel. Given the number of deaths involved, it is not possible to put a timescale on the inquiries, however, in light of the concerns which these matters have given rise to, the investigations will be completed as quickly as possible.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses owned by (a) registered social landlords and (b) local authorities have already met the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  According to information supplied by registered social landlords (RSLs) in 2006-07 a total of 125,895 RSL dwellings met the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) at that time.

  From the 18 local authority Standard Delivery Plans (SDPs) submitted in 2004-05, we know that around 130,000 local authority dwellings met the SHQS at that time. We can also confirm that according to the information submitted to us by local authorities 20,533 local authority dwellings were brought up to the SHQS in 2006-07, slightly above their originally projected target of around 19,700 dwellings.

  Scottish Government colleagues are working with a number of local authorities who have still to submit a finalised SDP. When these are assessed we will have a fuller picture of the number of dwellings which already meet the SHQS.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses owned by (a) registered social landlords and (b) local authorities have not met the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Scottish ministers have asked registered social landlords (RSLs) and local authorities to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) by 2015.

  According to information supplied to us by RSLs in 2006-07 a total of 123,910 RSL dwellings did not meet the SHQS at that time.

  We know from our initial assessment of the 18 local authority Standard Delivery Plans (SDP) submitted in 2004-05 that around 150,000 local authority dwellings did not meet the SHQS at that time.

  Scottish Government colleagues are working with a number of local authorities who have still to submit a finalised SDP. When these are assessed we will have a fuller picture of the number of dwellings which do not currently meet the SHQS.

Local Government Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned by the analysis of the Fairer Scotland Fund in Third Force News on 29 August 2008, which stated that the process of budget allocations is "being driven, led and dominated by local authorities."

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government expects democratically elected local authorities to be at the heart of decision making on deployment of the Fairer Scotland Fund.

  Community planning partnerships have been awarded Fairer Scotland Fund resources to help them achieve key outcomes which will regenerate communities; tackle poverty, and address barriers to work.

  As the partner with responsibility to administer the Fairer Scotland Fund and initiate, facilitate and maintain community planning in each council area, local authorities help public agencies, the voluntary sector and communities to plan and deliver better services together. The Fairer Scotland Fund provides the catalyst for positive change in our most disadvantaged areas, and for our most vulnerable people.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days Wishaw, Hairmyres and Monklands hospitals were closed to emergencies in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not centrally held.

Sport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government about separate Scottish representation at future Olympic Games.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has made no representations to the UK Government about separate Scottish representation at future Olympic Games.

Sport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers have had with ministers in the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland about separate representation at future Olympic Games.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with ministers in the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales about separate representation at future Olympic Games.

Sport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any reports were commissioned by ministers from their officials before the First Minister made his suggestion for separate Scottish representation at future Olympic Games.

Stewart Maxwell: No reports have been commissioned about separate Scottish representation at future Olympic Games.